a.k.a. kouzinovia – a greek word describing a female person who lives in the kitchen. Always.

Month: May 2016

I never associated calamari with pasta sauces and I’m glad I finally did. This is a lovely pasta dish, perfect as a summer night’s dinner or light lunch. The calamari is first cooked in a slightly spicy tomato sauce, then you throw in the pasta and let it simmer for a couple of minutes to absorb all the flavors. “Mitsides” shrimp shaped pasta is perfect for this. The rocket leaves mixed at the end give freshness and a great flavor. The topping is great! Breadcrumbs toasted in olive oil with fresh herbs like basil, mint and parsley. Will be making this many many times this summer, for sure. Continue reading →

This is such a great and easy way to serve roasted salmon. Plus, it looks and tastes so summery and delicious. I was served something similar to this, at a hotel in London. It looked far more refined than mine but it tasted more or less the same. Actually, the addition of mint and oregano make this more aromatic and fresh. The olives are the star if you ask me and they work so well with the salmon. The olive oil and balsamic vinegar helps release the juices from the cherry tomatoes and this creates a fresh and bright dressing for the fish. Just spoon it over before serving and there you have it. An easy, healthy and delicious meal. Continue reading →

I don’t often use the “best-ever” term for any of my recipes but in this case I couldn’t resist. This is really an outstanding dish. Fresh, aromatic, vibrant and absolutely delicious. Calamari and shrimp, dressed in a parsley-coriander-mint pesto, served on a bed of fresh spinach leaves. You can add any other seafood you crave, like mussels, scallops or crab. The pesto will work wonderfully with any of these. You can prepare the seafood and dressing in advance and let it marinate in the fridge for up to 24 hours. It will even taste better. Continue reading →

Living in a country with 365 days of sunshine, calls for cold food. The kind you keep in the fridge and eat anytime of the day. This salad has all the aromas of the Mediterranean and screams “summer”. Olives, tomatoes, mint remind me of lunches al fresco and dinners with chilled wine and great company. The herby dressing is tangy and fresh. It fills perfectly the fine grooves of this “Mitsides” tricolore pasta, making every bite, utterly delicious. Continue reading →